Simeon Stylites

Simeon Stylites, or Symeon the Stylite (lived c. 390–459 AD), was a Syrian Christian ascetic who became famous for living 36 years on a small platform on top of a pillar near modern-day Aleppo, Syria. The word “style” means “pillar” in Greek. Several other early Christians later followed his practice. The monks who lived in Paşabağ Valley, Cappadocia, also called Monks’ Valley, were followers of Simeon Stylites. Although they didn’t live on pillars, they did carve out the fairy chimneys of the valley and live in them.